Die stamping press and die wiper therefor



Feb. 19, 1952 R. N. STEFFENS 2,586,108

DIE STAMPING PRESS AND DIE WIPER THEREFOR Filed March 22, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l I :IIIIIIIIQQ' i 23 if r INVENTOR ROBERT N. STEFFENS BY. I W WW )1 T TORNEV Feb. 19, 1952 R. N. STEFFENS 2,586,108

Y DIE STAMPING PRESS AND DIE WIPER THEREFOR Filed March 22, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TOR/V5 V Feb. 19, 1952 R. N. STEFFENS DIE STAMPING PRESS AND DIE WIPER THEREFOR Filed March 22, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I by: ROBERT N. TEFFENS A TTOR/VEV Feb. 19, 1952 R. N. STEFFENS 2,586, 08

DIE STAMPING PRESS AND DIE WIPER THEREFOR Filed March 22, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6.

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I ea r 9/ 9o 8/ INVENTORI ROBERT 1v. STEFFE'NS A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIE STAMPING PRESS AND DIE WIPER THEREFOR Robert N. Steffens, Essex Fells, N. J.

Application March 22, 1947, Serial No. 736,555

19 Claims.

on the entire die surface and the die is then passed across a wiping pad which is adapted to 'remove all of the ink except the ink retained in the engraved design lying below the die or plate surface. After being wiped, the die is brought into printing position and by means of pressure, the inked-in design is transferred to paper to form the finished print.

In machines now in use, an endless strip of material, which is preferably non-absorbent, is arranged on the machine so that it is fed over the wiping pad and is advanced with each printing operation. This permits a clean wiping surface to be continuously presented for the removal of excess ink from the die. The ink covered portions of the wiper strip pass through a solvent bath and are subjected to the action of scrapers which remove the ink from the strip. This arrangement permits the presentation of a clean, ink-free portion of the wiper strip at its wiping position. Inasmuch as the wiper strip or belt is of substantial length, idler rolls and the like have been used to take up slack portions of the wiper strip. However, arrangements of this type have not permitted the wiper strip to function at its highest efficiency, particularly as regards the removal of all surplus ink from the die face.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a die wiper of the endless belt type wherein a section of the belt passing over the wiper pad, is positively tensioned, thereby removing the ink from the die surface more efficiently and furthermore withstanding the friction of the sliding die while the ink is being removed by the belt.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an endless belt wiper for a die stamping press combined with scraping elements and a solvent bath to remove surplus ink and ink solvent from the belt, means for suitably tensioning those portions of the belt passing over the scraping eleimmediately adjacent the wiping padof a die press and solvent means adapted to remove surplus ink carried on the belt fromthe-wiped die. The untensioned portion of the belt may be of such length as to permit adequate exposure of the belt after its treatment with solvents incident to the removal of ink.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for feeding an endless wiper belt through a die press wherein the feeding means comprises a pair of feed rolls located on one side of a wiper pad and a pair of wringer rolls on the other side of the wiper pad, the peripheral s et d of the wringer rollers being slightly greater than that of the feed rollers whereby that portion of the belt lying between the feed rollers and the wringer rollers, is suitably tensioned.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved die stamping press combined with a die wiper belt arrangement which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth and positive in operation and yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a die stamping press embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the die stamping press shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the die press shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, front elevational view of portion of the die press with a cover plate removed to show the details of the scraping means and wringer rolls;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view showing the details of an alternative chain drive interconnecting the feed rollers, wringer rollers and the intermittent feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on'the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line '|'l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the scraper members;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the scraper member illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the details of the alternative chain drive shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a solvent wiper element and its supporting bracket which is associated with the scraper means as shown in Fig- I Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of the solvent applicator shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l4-l 4" of Fig; 12..

Referring now in detail to the drawing; I!) designates a die stamping press and die wiper embodying the invention. The same comprises a frame H on which is mountedthemsual-hort! zontally extending bed l2. from one end of the bed I2, is a channeled member 13 comprisin a web [3a. and" flanges [312; and extending upwardly fromthesotherend of. the bed 12 is a frame [4 from which extends in spaced relation thereto, a pair of parallel aligned" arms I4a. Mounted cm the frame II is a conventiona l actuating-mechanism l 5 for imparting reciprocating motion to the-usual-ram. l6 which is slidably mounted on frame? M for. vertical movement relative to the bed l2. The.- a'ctu atingm-echanism IB'cOmprises-a gear I! mounted on" a central portion: of a shaft l8 journalled on the frame I I together with a: pair of 'disks I9 secured toeither' end oftheshafti I83 ALpair of'-'arms 20 are pivotally: attached atwtheir upper ends to thethe ram l6 and pivotally attached at their lower ends tocrank'pins secured'somthe disks l9 and eccentrically mounted: with respect to shaft Ill. The rotation ofshaft" I3 will impart oscillating movement to 1 the arms 20: which in turnwill.- cause reciprocating movement of theram [55 The gear I1 is. interconnected to agear' 2| by means-of a pinion 22. The: gear 2| is mounted on'a: central portion;of.a shaft 23- suitably journalled' on' its frame H; Secured to the-rear end of shaft 23' 'is' a circular member 2 F to which issecured a cam follower: 25 in eccentric relation' to the=shaft23r The:follo.wer 25 engages an eccentrically shaped; groove portion 26 of F an" arm 27 pivotally' securedat. its lower endto a base portion: of the: frame." H thereby imparting oscillating motion to the-arm 212 The upper end of" the: arm: 2:12 is pivotally connected to anarm" 28 which. in: turn is."- connected to a die 29 slidably: mountedifor'horizontal movement on the bed: I21. It: is under-- stood that the movement' ofthenramJfi'zandthe die 2 9 is 'correlated to producezthe desired stamping action in a mannenwelkknown: in; the art.

Means isprov-ided for applyinginka to thereciprocating die. pan or receptacle 30 positioned cm the bed I 2 adjacent the channelled member" I31. A rotatingrro'll 3l mounted in the pan13l3: is adapted to transfer ink within the pan to attransferroller 32 which is' mounted on the endof' an-oscill'ating arm 33" which is pivotally-'mountedi on: a lower end" ofthe frame porti'on. l4a: Oscillating'motion is imparted tothei arm". 33 by means of;a.--bell crank 34=spivotally mounted'onrthe'frame I] and having one arm 35 bearing againstzani eccentric. cam136-;secured.;to the shaft-l8. The other arm 31 of the crank 34 is pivotallyconnected to. an upwardly extending: arm, 38 which in turn is pivotally connected to a shortsarm.39,,which in I turn-is pivotally: connected to. the arml33.. The.

end portion of the arm 3140f bell crank 34 is biasedrina downwarddirection by means of a spring. dflhavingd one end attached to. the arm 37 and'the other endfsecuredto' the base of the frame l.|; Itwill'be apparent that the rotary. motion of the" cam 36 will impart oscillating movement-to theb'ell crank 34 which in turn will cause the arm 33 to move to and-froma Extending upwardly To this end an ink containing:

position where the roller 32 is caused to contact the roller 3!, thereby effecting the transfer of ink to the roller 32. The movement of the arm 33 is correlated to the movement of the die 29 whereby the ink coated roller 32 will contact the surface of the die.2'9' at aretract'edfposition during its pivoted movement over the -bed l2.

A conventional wiper pad 4| is mounted on the bed l2 adjacent the lower end of the ram l6. Meansr-is'provided to feed an endless wiper belt 42' around the wiper pad 4|. To this end there is journalled on a projecting inner portion of the frame'' 14; a shaft 43 on which is secured a roller 44;. An.. opposed roller 45 is suitably iournalled in bearing blocks 46 slidably mounted on the-frame and is resiliently pressed towards roller 44 by means of springs 41 and adjusting screws 48 mounted. on overlying projections of frame Mi. A roller-49 is rotatably mounted on the upper extremity of the-frame M; for the purpose hereinafter described;

The. feed roller 4 3 1s adapted to, be rotated intermittently ina clockwise :direction. To. this end, a sprocket wheel. 50 secured to one-rend of the shaft =33 .is interconnected .to a sprocketrwheel. 51 secured" to ashaft 51a journalled'orrthe-upper end of the front arm- M'a, by'means of a.- chain 52. The sprocket wheel 5| 1 is interconnected to the gear 2| bymean's oi'a crank armv 53, oneend of which is eccentrically'mounted.withrespect to the gear shaft 23, the otherendof: the crank arm 53 being pivotally connected to one end of a swivel member 54; The-other end of the swivel member- 54- is: pivotally mounted on the outer endof the shaft 5Ia-onwhichis also'secured a ratchet wheel'56. Aapawl 58-011 the. swivel member 54; engages the ratchet wheeltli. It -wilLbe apparentthat each revolution oflthe gear 2L will cause; the crank arm-.53; to move; up' and down, thereby actuating the pawl- 58 through an angle of about 90 degrees. The paw1558-will move. the ratchet wheel iii-together. with the sprocket wheel 51, onv its upwardmovement and willslide back onits downward movement'without moving the ratchet wheel. This in turn will causethe roller 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction intermittently-throughits interconnection withthe sprocket Wheel 5|. The intermittent movement of the roller Hand-its associated-roller 45 willproduce intermittent movement of theibelt- :2;passing between the rollers.

Means: is also provided to tension a= selected section ofv the belt M as it moves throughthe die press.

To this end there is provided a pair of horizontally extending aligned framemembers; 591 which are secured at their inner end portionstdthe channel member [3. Each frame member 59 comprises. a pair: of vertically spaced, parallel arms 60, interconnected at their outer. endslby vertical arms .51, the-innerend ,OfEaC-h upper. arm 60 being securedtothe flange l3b -of channel member. I3 by meansof screws 610.. The-inner edgeportion of each arm 83 is formediwithua groove" 62 and. spacedtherefromuaw groove 63. Mounted within the opposed EIOOVBSfiQIiH'fllHlS 60 isa pair of bearing blocks 64 on whichris rotatably mounted a shaft 65 to which: issecured aroller 55a. A. second roller 66a, axiallyaligned with roller 65a, is secured to a shaft -fifi-rrotatably mounted in a' pair of bearing blocksr67=,,slidably mounted within the-opposed grooves 62..in:arms 63. The blocks 61 are intrconnected1byra member 68which extends in spaced, parallel relationship-to. the roller- 66a; An adjustingascrew 69 portion of the web |3a of the channel member and bears against the member 68. By turning the screw 59, the spacing between the rollers 65a and 66a may be suitably adjusted. The ends of shafts 65 and 66 project through their respective bearing blocks and aligned through openings in a pair of spaced parallel cover plates which are secured to the channelled member l3 on the outer sides of flanges |3b, by screws BID. The

plates 10 are also secured to the outer end portions of the arms 60 by screws 10a. The cover plates 10 are formed on central portions of their inner surfaces with aligned projecting bosses 10b, for the purpose hereinafter described. Secured on each of the shafts 65 and 66 on their end portions, are pairs of meshing gears H, 12. On the shaft 65, adjacent the gear 12, is secured a sprocket wheel 13 which is interconnected to a sprocket wheel 14 secured to the rear end of shaft 50, by means of a sprocket chain 15. It will be apparent that the intermittent clockwise rotation of the roller 44 will cause similar intermittent clockwise rotation of the roller 65a and counterclockwise rotation of roller 66a. The relative diameters of the sprocket wheels I4 and 13 are so related that the peripheral speed of roller 65a is slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the roller 44. This produces a tension in that portion of the belt 42 which extends from the rollers 44, 45 around the wiper pad 4| to the rollers 65a, 56a.

Means is also provided to remove surplus ink from the belt 42 as it moves away from the wiper pad 4| towards the rollers 65a, 66a. To this end 5 there extends from the channel member l3 and below the frame 59 a pair of parallel supporting arms H5, in parallel relationship to the bed l2.

The lower edge of the cover plates I4 is secured to the outer end of the arms |'|5 by means of ing an upwardly inclined rectangular shapedw open ended slot 8|. The arm 19 is also formed with a rectangular shaped open ended. slot 82.

The right hand portion of the bracket 11a, looking at Fig. 4, is formed with rectangular shaped open ended slots 83, 84 which extend upwardly and are inclined outwardly of each other. The brackets Ha are further formed with projecting bosses 85 on outer surfaces thereof. The brackets Tla are disposed adjacent the cover plates 10 with the bosses 85 abutting the bosses 10a on the cover plates 10 and secured thereto by means of screws 86 passing through the cover plates 70. The slots 8|; 82, 83 and 84 in the brackets Ila are adapted to receive similar scraper members 8hr, 82a, 83a. and 84a, respectively. The scraper members comprise elongated rectangular plates 88 to which are secured in overlying relationship thereto, a

scraper blade 89 which projects beyond the upper edge of plate 88. A thin cover plate 90 overlies thev blade 89 and spaced screws 9| secure the cover plate 90 and the blade 89 to the plate 88.

The scraper members are adapted tobe readily inserted in the aligned slots BI, 82, 83 and 84 and are easily removedv when necessary. A roller, 92 is 'rotatably'journalled between the triangular portions 18 of the bracket 11a. The roller 92 is adapted to extend into the. lower portions 01f the solvent containing receptacle It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4, that during the movement of belt 42, it is adapted to contact the successive scraper members 84w, 83a,'pass around the roller 92 and move upwardly, contacting scraper members 8|a, 82a. The belt 42 then continues its upward movement, passing between rollers 65a, 66a. The path of travel of the belt 42 from the wiper pad 4| towards the bracket 11a is deflected in a manner which sharply reflexes the belt as it passes around the scraper member 84a.

The belt is again sharply flexed as it passes over scraper 83a when its path is again deflected in its downward movement towards the roller 92. As the belt 42 continues around the roller 92 and moves upwardly, it is scraped by scrapers 8| a, 82a and is flexed across the blade of the scraper by reason of the overlapping position of the scraper 8211 with respect to scraper 8|a as shown in Fig. 4. It is apparent that the scrapers 84a, 83a will remove surplus ink on the under surface of the tensioned belt 42, the ink receptacle 30 which is positioned under the scrapers, receiving the thus removed ink. The solvent contained within the receptacle TI, dissolves any remaining ink on the belt 42 as it is deeply immersed in the solvent during its passage through the container H. The scrapers 8|a, 82a remove the excess solvent from either side of the belt 42, the receptacle ll receiving the drippings. The rollers 65a, 65a also act to squeeze any residual solvent from the belt with the drippings also going back into the receptacle 11.

The upper end of the channelled member l4 has journalled thereon a pair of vertically aligned idler rollers 93, 94. The belt 42 moves upwardly over roller 93 and around roller 94, then continuing around idler roller 49 to pass between feed rollers 45, 44. A floating, weighted roller 95 is used to take up surplus slack in the belt between idler rollers 93 and 94.

It will be apparent that the section of the wiper belt 42 which passes around the wiper pad 4| will be tensioned in a manner to facilitate its wiping action with respect to the reciprocating die 29. In this manner, all surplus ink will be removed from the die surface by the wiperbelt. The action of the scrapers 8|a, 82a, 83a. and 840 as well the rolls 65a, 66a is also facilitated by the tensioning of the belt 42. The squeezing pressure of roll 65a with respect to roll 55a is regulated by means of the screw 69. This adjustment also permits regulation of the spacing between the rolls to accommodate belts of different thicknesses.

In Fig. 5 is shown an alternative form of chain drive in which the rollers 55a, 66a are connected directly to the sprocket wheel 5| which is actuated by the ratchet wheel 56, instead of indirectly by way of the roller 44 as shown in Fig. 1. A sprocket wheel 14a is secured to the rear end of shaft 5|b which is journalled on arms Ma and is interconnected to sprocket wheel 13 by a sprocket chain 150.. The sprocket wheel 5| secured on the front end of shaft 5|b is interconnected to the sprocket wheel by sprocket chain 52, as previously described. The intermittent rotation of the sprocket wheel 5| will thus cause similar rotation of the sprocketv wheel 13 and the associated rollers a, 66a. I f

It will be apparent that a relatively small section of the wiper belt 42 is tensioned by reason of the indicated arrangement of the rollers a, 66a relative to the feed rollers 44, 45. This also permitsa relatively; large section of theuntensioned portion of. the: belt. to pass over idler rollers,thereby'facilitating the evaporation of-any solvent retained by. the .beltafter passage through the rollers 65a, 66a, towards the feed rollers 44,. 45;

In order tov insure the removal of ink from the; belt42 as it leaves the wiper pad 4I, there is provided means for supplementing the action of the scrapers 83a and 84a. To this end, a pair of similar brackets I90 are bolted at one endto the: brackets. Ha, adjacent the slot 04 therein. The brackets I are inclined downwardly and outwardly and are formed on their other ends with openended, vertically extending, slots- IOI. A-.combination-solvent receptacle and solvent applying. means I02- is adjustably mounted on the slotted. portions of the bracketsI-BII. The receptaclew and; applying means I02 comprises a trough shapedv receptacle I03 having. a vertical walll I04 andan-inclined wall, I 05. Thereceptacle I02 is; bolted. to an opentop casing I06. The casing, I06 comprises: a-pa-ir of similar, parallel side walls; Ill-I, I08, a pair of end walls I03 which extend above the side walls and a bottom wall I-ll9a. The end walls I09 are formed with aligned slots H0 on their upper ends. A shaft I I=Is is'journ'a-lled in the slots I10 and has secured thereto a roller I12. A set of wicks I'I3 which project above: the walls I07, I08 are contained within the casing I06, the upper ends thereof being in contact: with theroller '2. The lower portion of. wail-1 I04 of receptacle I03 is formed withspacedopenings I=I-4 which are aligned with similar openings H in the adjacent wall I0'I of the casing; The endwalls IIIIl are provided with vertically aligned, spaced threaded studs II6 which are-disposed in the'sl'ots. IIlI of the brackets I 90: Nuts. II'Is which span the slots IOI, are screwed; on: the studs I-I5' to adjustably position the. combination: receptacle and applying means I112: with respect to the brackets I00. A conduit I I 8 extending from a lower portion of the solvent receptacle 111 to the receptacle I03 provides the latter with" asupply of solvent from the former. The aligned openings I'M; H5 inthe receptacle I03 a-nd casing I06; respectively, permits the passageof: solvent into the casing I06; thereby saturating the" wicks II3 which in turn apply the solventto the roller' I122 The roller 2 which is disposed in the path of travel of the belt 42 as: it leaves. the wiper 4| and approaches the scraper 8411;, will apply solvent to the" underside orink coated surface of the belt, thereby softening and loosening" the dried coating. This will facilitate: the subsequent scraping action of the scrapers 84a, 83a, as previously described.

Means is also provided for facilitating" the application of solvent to the belt 42" as it' passes through the solventreceptacle 11'. To this end a channel shaped member H9 is mounted on the bracket 11a. The member II 0 comprises a pair of parallel arms I20 interconnected by a web I2I. The member III! is secured to the brackets 'I'Ia by means of screws I22 passing through openings in the upper ends of the arms I20 and received in threaded openings in the bracket Ila, disposed below the slots BI thereof. Theweb IZI of the member H9 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the solvent receptacle 1'] and the roller- 92. A felt member. I22" is clamped between the web I.2I and an overlying plate I23 which is. removably secured to the web I2'I by screws I24. The felt member I22 comprises: a folded. edge. portion I25 which is adapted to 8 frictionally engagethebelt 42 as itpassesaround the roller. 92. The. edge portion I25 of theielt member by reason of a. rubbing action. enhances the effect of the solvent in the. receptacle. 11 in removing any residual ink on thebelt 42..

The rollers 65a, 66a as well as the. rollers. 44, 45 are made of smooth metal. It isunderstood that the higher speed of the rollers- 65a, 660 as compared-to that of rollers 44, 45 will stretch the belt 42 moving between therollers to a point at which thedriving friction of the rollers isexceeded by the resisting tension of the belt At this point the smooth metal. rollers merely slip on the belt surface: Without injury to the. belt surface.

The wiper belt 42 maybe made of thermoplastic materials such as the vinyl resins or chemically modified rubbers. These materials. are particularly adapted for use as die wiper belts inasmuch as they do not absorb ink; are: readily washed free of ink and are inert with. respect to ink solvents. Such materials are also. resistant to moisture and are readily seamedwhen it is necessary to make a joint in thebelt.

It will thus be seen that there isprovided-a device in which the several objects of thisinvention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim: as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent:

1. In a machine for printing" engraved stationery, an endless die wiper belt, means to ten.- sion a selected portion of the belt substantially less than the whole length of the belt, a die, means for contacting the. die' with the. tensioned portion of the belt to remove i'nk from. the die, means to scrape ink off apart of the tensioned portion of the belt which has removed ink from the die, and means to. apply ink solvent toa part of the tensioned portion of the belt. after the belt has been scraped by said scraping means, and said tensioning means comprising means to wring said belt after solvent has been applied to said belt, and said. tensioning and wringing means comprising. means to advance said belt.

2. In a machine for printing engraved stationery, an endless die wiper belt, means to. tension a selected portion of the belt substantially less than the whole length of the belt, a die, means for contacting the die with the tensioned portion of the belt to remove ink from the die, means to apply ink solvent to a part of the tensioned portion of the belt after the belt has wiped the die, said tensioning means comprising means to wring said belt, and said tensioning and wringing means comprising means to ad vance said belt.

3. In a machine for printing engraved stationery, an endless die wiper belt, means to tension a selected portion of the belt, a die, means for contacting the die with the tensioned portion of the belt to remove ink from the die, means to scrape ink ofi a part of the tensioned portion of the belt. which has. removed ink from the die, means to apply'ink solvent to a part of the tensioned portion of the belt after the belt has been scraped by said scraping means; and means to scrape ink solvent and dissolved ink tion of the tensioned part of the belt between the wiper pad and the first pair of rollers, a bath of'ink' solvent located beneath" the scraper means, means to pass a portion of the belt through said bath after it has been scraped, and

said first pair of rollers'being located above said bath.

7. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an e'ndles'sbelt having a portion contacting the wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers on opposite sides of the belt and in advance portion of the belt under less tension than the tensioned portion, a die wiper pad contacted by said tensioned portion of the belt, means for scraping a portion of the tensioned part of the belt which has contacted the pad, means to apply ink solvent to thepart of the tensioned portion of the belt which has contactedthe pad and has been scraped, means to scrape the belt after ink solvent has been applied thereto to remove solvent and dissolved ink therefrom, and said tensioning and advancing means comprising means to wring said belt after it has been scraped by said last mentioned scraping means.

5. In a press for printing engraved stationary, a die wiper pad, an endless belt having a portion contacting the wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers on opposite sides of the belt and in advance of the pad, means -to press ,said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to feed the belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides of the belt in back of the wiper pad, means to press said rollers against opposite sides ofthe belt, and means to' rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that, of the firstpair of rollers to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers is under tension, the tensioned portion of the belt being less in'length than the remaining portion of the belt, and means to maintain said remaining portion of the belt at less tension than said tensioned portion, and intermeshing gears on said first pairs of rollers,

means to scrape a portion of the tensioned partsite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said' rollers to feed the belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers contacting oposite sides of the belt in back of the wiper pad, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, and means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers to feed the belt.

forwardly toward the. wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers is under tension, the tensioned portion of the belt being less in length than the remaining portion of the belt, and means to maintain said remaining portion'of the belt at less tension than said tensioned portion, intermeshing gears on said first pair of rollers and means, to scrape a porof the pad, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to feed the belt forwardly'past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides of, the belt in back of the wiper pad, means'to press said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, and means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the, first pair of rollers to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad,

' ing portion of the belt, and means to maintain tween the wiper pad and the first pair of rollers, a bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper and a second scraping. means for scraping ink of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed said remaining portion of the belt at less tension than said tensioned portion, and intermeshing gears on said first pair of rollers, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the belt bemeans, means to pass a portion of the belt through said bath after it has been scraped, said first pair of rollers being located above said bath,

solvent and dissolved ink from the belt after the belt has passed through said bath and before said belt reaches the first pair of rollers. Y

8. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless belt having a portion contacting the wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers on opposite sides of the belt and in advance' of the pad, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to feed the belt'forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers con-" tacting opposite sides of the belt in back of the wiper pad, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the belt, and means to rotate one less than that of the first pair of rollers to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of "rollers is under tension, the tensioned portion" of the belt being less in length than the remain-- ing portion of the belt, and means to maintain said remaining portion of the belt at less tension than said tensioned portion, intermeshing gears on said first pair of rollers, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the belt between the wiper pad and the first pair of rollers, a bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper means, means to pass a portion of the bolt through said bath after it has been scraped, said first pair of rollers being located above said bath,

a second scraping means for scraping ink solvent and dissolved ink fromthe belt after the belt has passed through said bath and before said belt reaches the first pair of rollers, and means to adjust the pressure of each pair of rollers against the belt. I

9. In a press for printing engraved stationery,

a die wiperpad, a pair f opposedrollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the rollersfadjustable'means other than the rollers themselves, to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears on said rollers, means to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the'wiping pad and between which said strip passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, and means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to advance sa'id strip toward the wiper pad and whereby the portion of the strip between said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, and means to remove ink from a portion of thetensioned part of the strip in advance of the pad.

10. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the'rollers, adjustable means other than the rollers themselves, to press the rollers toward each other'and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears on said rollers, means to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollers in backof the wiping pad and between which said strip passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to advance said strip toward the wiper pad and whereby the portion 'of the strip between said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, and means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the strip at a point between the pad and the first pair of rollers.

11. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the rollers, means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears on said rollers, means to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and between which'said strip passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to advance said strip toward the wiper pad and whereby the'portion of the stripbetween said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the strip at a point between the pad and the first pair of rollers, and a bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper means, and means to pass a portion of the scraped strip through the bath to dissolve ink therefrom.

12. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, a pair ofopposed rollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the rollers, means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears on said rollers, means. to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and between which said strip passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to advance said strip toward the wiper pad and whereby the portion of the strip between said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the strip at a point between the pad and the first pair of rollers, a bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper means, means to pass a portion of the scraped strip through the bath to dissolve ink therefrom, and means for scraping dissolved ink and ink solvent from the belt after the belt has passed through said bath and before said belt reaches said first pair of rollers.

13. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the rollers, means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears on said rollers, means to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and between which said strip passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to advance said strip toward the wiper pad whereby the portion of the strip between said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the strip at a point between the pad and the first pair of rollers, a bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper means, means to pass a portion of the scraped strip through the bath to dissolve ink therefrom, and means for scraping dissolved ink and ink solvent from the belt after the belt has passed through said bath and before said belt reaches said first pair of rollers, and said first pair of rollers being located above said bath.

14. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, a pair of opposed rollers in advance of the pad, a die wiping strip contacting the pad and passing between the rollers, means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of the wiping strip, intermeshing gears. on said rollers, means to rotate said rollers to advance said strip, a second pair of opposed rollersinback of the wiping pad and between which said strip, passes, means to press said rollers against opposite sides of the strip, means including means connecting one of the second pair of rollers with one of the first pair of rollers, to rotate said roller of the second pair at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pairof rollers, to advance said strip toward the wiper pad and whereby the portion of the strip. between said first and second pairs of rollers is under tension, means to scrape a portion of the tensioned part of the strip at a point between the pad and, the first pair of rollers, a. bath of ink solvent located beneath the scraper means, means to pass a portion of the scraped strip through the bath to dissolve ink therefrom,means for scraping dissolved ink and ink solvent from the belt after the belt has passed through said bath and before said belt reaches said first pair of rollers, said first pair of rollers being located above said bath, and means to adjust the pressure of each pair of rollers against the belt.

15. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless die wiper belt contacting the pad, a pair of opposed rollers contactin opposite sides of the belt in advance of the pad, adjustable means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of said belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to advance said belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers in baclr of the w n ng pad and. contacting opposite sides of the be means to press said second pair of rollers toward each other against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said second pair of roll rs at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion oi the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers, is under greater tension than the remaining portion of the belt, a die, means to wipe the die against the portion or" the belt which is pressed against the pad, and means to remove from the belt, ink wiped thereon by the die.

16. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless die wiper belt contacting the pad, a pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides or the belt in advance of the pad, adjustable means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of said belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to advance said belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and contacting opposite sides of the belt, means to press said second pair of rollers toward each other against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers, is under greater tension than the remaining portion of the belt, a die, means to wipe the die against the portion of the belt which is pressed against the pad, and means to rernove from the belt, ink wiped thereon by the die, said means for removing ink from the belt comprising means to apply solvent to a tensioned portion of the belt between the pad and the first pair of rollers.

17. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless die wiper belt contacting the pad, a pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides of the belt in advance of the pad, adjustable means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of said belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to advance said belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and contacting opposite sides of the belt, means to press said second pair of rollers toward each other against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers, is under greater tension than the remaining portion of the belt, a die, means to wipe the die against the portion of the belt which is pressed against the pad, and means to remove from the belt, ink wiped thereon by the die, said means for removing ink from the belt comprising means to scrape ink from a tensioned portion of the belt between the pad and the first pair of rollers.

18. In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless die wiper belt contacting the pad, a pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides of the belt in advance of the pad, adjustable means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of said belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to advance said belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and contacting opposite sides of the belt, means to press said second pair of rollers toward each other against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers to the first pair of rollers, is under greater tension than the remaining portion of the belt, a die, means to wipe the die against the portion of the belt which is pressed against the pad, and means to remove from the belt, ink wiped thereon by the die, said means for removing ink from the belt comprising means to scrape ink from a tensioned. portion of the belt between the pad and the first pair of rollers, and means to apply solvent to a tensioned portion of the belt between the pad the first pair of rollers, which has been scraped.

i In a press for printing engraved stationery, a die wiper pad, an endless die wiper belt contacting the pad, a pair of opposed rollers contacting opposite sides of the belt in advance of the pad, adjustable means to press the rollers toward each other and against opposite sides of said belt, means to rotate one of said rollers to advance said belt forwardly past the wiper pad, a second pair of opposed rollers in back of the wiping pad and contacting opposite sides of the belt, means to press said second pair of rollers toward each other against opposite sides of the belt, means to rotate one of said second pair of rollers at a peripheral speed less than that of the first pair of rollers, to feed the belt forwardly toward the wiper pad, whereby the portion of the belt moving forwardly from the second pair of rollers so the first pair of rollers, is under greater tension than the remaining portion of the belt, a die, means to wipe the die against the portion of the belt which is pressed against the pad, and means to remove from the belt, ink wiped theeron by the die, and intermeshing gears on said first pair of rollers.

ROBERT N. STEFFENS.

anrsianncns crrsn following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 742,091 Blaisdell Oct. 20, 1903 794 487 Brod July 11, 1905 1,023,469 Demery July 16, 1912 1,146,290 Sturtevant July 13, 1915 1,191,506 G-utberlet July 18, 1916 1,230,897 Hawkins June 26, 1917 1,394,275 De Gay May 20, 1919 1,367,565 Sabot Feb. 8, 1921 

